Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-12-10
A LONG SLUMBER.


which afforded a subject of gossip; and this
died out, revived and died out again, accord
ing to circumstances We had wealth-few
were richer than the Trelawneys. All adj
mitted that we were just and even generous
in our dealings with Others but we had no
intimate friends, and kept apart from our
neighbors We neither made visits nor re-
ceived visitors No invited guest ever crossed
our threshold, and those who came on bust
ness were courteously bowed out when their
business was concluded. A meal in the
kitchen, and sometimes tribe of money,
was given to a mendicant; but, the meal
eaten, and the money taken, the recipient
was unceremoniously turned out. Our serv-
ants had been with us from their childhood;
they served us well and faithfully; they re-
ceived good wages their duties were light;
they had kind treatment; their children were
born and reared upon the place. when super
animated. their wages went on until they
died: but they formed no attachment to us,
nor we to them We used our fortune Hber-
ally for public purposes, but grew richer
every year for we never lived up to half our
income and with every generation the Ire
lawney property increased in extent, while
it shared the general appreciation of value,
The Trelawneys were longed lived, few
dying young But there were few of them
born For six generations, with one excep-
ton but one child followed each marriage,
and that was always a son. The exception
was with my t-great-grandfather who
had brother two years younger than him
self. named John. His birth was set down in
the family record as occurring in 1112, but
what struck me as singular was the absence
of any mention of the year of his death. He
seemed to have disappeared, and died proba-
i,,s MIA al
For some reason or other, a large amount of
personal property supposed to have been his,
was held in trust by my great-grandfather,
and that trust had been renewed regularly
from father to son. | once asked my father
about this missing great-granduncle. A
deeper gloom than usual overcast his face at
nv question ''You will know all about it
some day. was his reply; and then he went
on to speak of something else.
Certainly both my father and grandfather
wore a troubled and gloomy look ON their
faces. They were prey to settled melan-
choly never saw them smile. Every one
noted their careworn expression; but none
knew why.
There was mystery. Next to the library,
in the northern wing, was a large chamber,
as laid down in the architects plan of a cent
ury before. Its shutters were always kept
closed, and light seen there all night
long In the rest of the house gas had been
introduced from small generator on the
premises This solitary lamp was filed and
trimmed by my father or grandfather, oil
being kept in the library for the purpose No
one but they was allowed to enter the cham
Der, which was kept locked, and each carried
a KEY. And three times day, no matter
whether they had brealfasted, dined or sup
ped or not, there was slight rejection, not
enough for more than one brought to the
library. 1t was either milk or bouillon-
something liquid. They partook of it in
secret the library door being locked until
the repast ended And another remarkable
fact was observed, my father and grand
father never went abroad together. If one
went out. the other remained at home, as
thourh TO Guard the secret of the chamber.
Concerning this mystery there was much
discussion among the servants. 1t was a
theme of never ending interest But, as
either boy or man, when happened among
them il was not touched, and / only inferred
their talk by the fact that when l appeared
the conversation was hushed. It was more
talked about after my mothers death. The
idea somehow got abroad that the chamber
was a storehouse Of treasure. This led TO
the visit of burglars. But my grandfather,
who always slept in the library, having a
.
lars and the other escaped After that there
were no attempts of the kind.
So grew up, often wondering about but
never knowing the secrets of the closed
room Unlike the rest, / went abroad
deal. and on my return from the university,
Travelled in this country and Europe i'll
which mode of amusing myself 1 was en-
couraged. I had an ample allowance of
money. owned fast horse, kept yacht, and
some other things not quite so innocent, until
/ exhausted the resources of a mild dissipa-
ton. Suddenly my grandfather died, and
was called home.
I found my father looking moro gloomy
than ever Between him and my grandfather
there had always existed intimacy more
like that of brothers than that between
father and son He asked me into the library
as soon as came locked the door and babe
me be seated. Then he said
stYour Crandfathers death makes it neceS-
sary TO impart to you CHASTITY secret, which,
throuph precaution, should be kept by two.
You have looked over our family recordT
nodded. you remember, then, there is no
account of the death of your great-grand-
uncle John, who mysteriously disappeared
eighty wears since. The reason is that he
never died at all He still lives, if his condi-
ton may be considered life"
He arose, and, taxing Key from MS
pocket opened the door of tho great room
and entered, bidding me follow. The cham
Der was long and lofty. The floor, which had
once been waved and polished, had evidently
been NEGLECTED., and bore on it neither carpet
nor ruc There were a half dozen of heavy,
old fashioned chairs, an old fashioned table
ornamented with marquetry and heavily
purtained bedstead &y father threw aside
the bed curtains and pointed to form upon
The bed
AT first l thought it was the wax figure Of
very old man, but a second glance showed
me that it breathed. The eyes were closed,
he face wrinlllcd and pGllid. 1t seemed less
ike one asleep than as man whose ANNA